Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer

The posting, as Oklo wrote it

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer to join our team.

Position Description

A Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer at Oklo is responsible for performing criticality safety evaluations, developing the nuclear criticality safety basis, and architecting the nuclear criticality safety program for a first-of-a-kind used nuclear fuel recycling facility.

Specific responsibilities may include

• Identifying and evaluating nuclear criticality safety (NCS) hazards for fuel cycle facilities
• Performing criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) to demonstrate subcriticality under normal and credible abnormal conditions
• Developing the criticality code validation report
• Demonstrating compliance with the double-contingency principle
• Documenting criticality hazard analyses, CSEs, and supporting technical information
• Evaluating and implementing controlled parameters for the NCS program
• Developing the criticality accident alarm system and inadvertent criticality emergency response plan
• Supporting safety basis development and licensing efforts
• Developing and administering the NCS program, methodologies, and management measures

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, or chemistry, or related field
• Minimum 5+ years experience performing CSEs as a part of a nuclear facility’s safety basis

Bonus Qualifications

• Knowledge of used nuclear fuel recycling technologies
• 10+ years of experience performing criticality safety evaluations for an NRC licensed fuel cycle facility

Competencies

We are looking for a Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer that is:

• Knowledge of nuclear science, physics of criticality, and chemistry
• Knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle processes and nuclear fuel cycle facility accident scenarios
• Proficient with Attila4MC, MCNP, SCALE, and/or Serpent codes and modules
• Familiarity with critical experiments and their purpose
• Knowledge of criticality-specific codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and industry practices for nuclear fuel cycle facilities
• Familiarity with NUREG-1513, NUREG-1520, NUREG/CR-6410, NUREG/CR-6698, NUREG/CR-7311, and NRC RG 3.71
• Passionate about clean energy and making advanced fission a reality
• Knowledgeable about structural design, analysis, and construction
• Eager to work on a dynamic team, receive constructive feedback, and grow with us
• Willing to think differently and learn quickly
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving, while not leaning only on what has been done before
• An excellent writer who can communicate technical concepts in modern active voice

Who you are

A startup person : You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process. You don't need or expect to have a
[…]
o National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.

#CHOP: Oklo’s Values
Collaboration : We go further, together. We bring diverse perspectives, listen actively, and build trust through transparency and respect. We work across disciplines, sharing ownership to turn complex challenges into shared successes.
Humility : We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
Ownership : We take pride in what we do and how we do it. We are proactive in finding solutions and see tasks through to completion. We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Pathfinding : We chart new ground where no path exists by approaching challenges with curiosity, courage, and creativity while navigating ambiguity.
Candidates should be aware that employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a drug screening, and employees may be subject to drug testing at any time in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.

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All legitimate communications from our recruiting team— including application updates, interview requests, and job offers — will come exclusively from an @oklo.com email. Oklo will never ask for sensitive personal information, payments, or account credentials during the hiring process.

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